Barbara Schnake

My Story

I grew up in Chile, in a large family — where life was full, sometimes chaotic, and deeply connected to people and nature. After migrating to Australia and rebuilding a sense of belonging from scratch, I came to appreciate even more deeply the complexity of identity, connection, and adaptation — themes that often emerge in therapy and have shaped both who I am and how I work.

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I completed my psychology degree at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, one of Latin America’s leading universities. Before moving to Australia, I worked in private practice with adults and as Wellbeing Coordinator at DUOC UC University — experiences that shaped my understanding of both individual therapy and the broader systems that influence mental health. Since relocating to Australia in 2022, I have worked with children, families, and adults across a wide range of emotional and psychological challenges. My experience includes supporting children with autism, ADHD, and emotional regulation difficulties, working alongside families through parent coaching, and continuing therapeutic work with adults navigating anxiety, trauma, emotional distress, relationship difficulties, life transitions, and patterns that no longer feel helpful.

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I believe in an integrated, tailored approach to therapy — drawing from different evidence-based methods depending on what each person needs, rather than following a single framework rigidly. Rather than focusing only on diagnoses or labels, I aim to understand the experiences, patterns, and protective strategies that have shaped someone’s life and brought them to where they are today.

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Central to how I work is the belief that behaviours often develop for understandable reasons — and that making sense of them is an important part of therapy. I see therapy as a collaborative process: creating a space where people can feel understood, develop insight, and move toward change in a way that feels meaningful and sustainable.

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I am registered with AHPRA (PSY0002706279) and currently completing a Master’s Degree in Psychology Practice (Clinical). I offer therapy in both English and Spanish, with sessions available face-to-face in Manly and via telehealth across Australia.